BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Ducks › Eagle Attack
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Eagle Attack - Page 3

post #21 of 28
6/23/12 at 1:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by newbyduckmom View Post

Told my husband I wasn't sure what I would have done had I gotten there before the eagle flew off....he said only two words, "Federal offense!" 

 

Been "discussing" the need for covered run since last September.  Hubby said eagles couldn't carry off a domestic duck, so wouldn't bother.  I disagreed.  He believes me now. Ongoing discussion about lengths we need to go to to protect the ducks from predators.  Guess I need to learn to build the duck runs myself.......

I've thrown rocks at them a couple times. Not nice, but neither is losing your birds. My flock has to be monitored really close because we have a pair of baldies nesting in the back yard.

Quote:
Originally Posted by newbyduckmom View Post

Triple S????

Shoot, shovel, shutup. Not that I would. But that's what it means. wink.png

I'm Kelly. Married to my enabler, man of my dreams, love of my life, builder of my duck houses. Mom to two awesome, if not a bit wild, children. Adopted mom to a mixed flock of ducks (Runner, Pekin, Cayuga, Swede) and a not-so-bright rescue dog named Mack. Auntie to all the animals at the farm I work at. Photographer (http://www.redbubble.com/people/evanskelly). Blogger of the obscure,...

Reply

I'm Kelly. Married to my enabler, man of my dreams, love of my life, builder of my duck houses. Mom to two awesome, if not a bit wild, children. Adopted mom to a mixed flock of ducks (Runner, Pekin, Cayuga, Swede) and a not-so-bright rescue dog named Mack. Auntie to all the animals at the farm I work at. Photographer (http://www.redbubble.com/people/evanskelly). Blogger of the obscure,...

Reply
post #22 of 28
6/23/12 at 2:03pm
Yea it suck that you can't get rid of the threats to your livestock.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 28
6/23/12 at 4:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oregon Blues View Post

I'm sorry you lost your duck.

 

Generally, eagles don't seem too interested in domestic ducks, but if you have an eagle that has discovered it can eat your ducks, he will be back.  All you can do is to keep your birds in covered runs except when you are right there with them.

 

I'm curious to know if deserthotwings is willing to pay the tens of thousands of dollars in fines that his advice would cost you.

If I catch a varmit killing any of my stock, cattle or birds, he's history.

Reply
Reply
post #24 of 28
6/23/12 at 4:52pm

Shoot Shovel and Shut-up

 

Unless of course you have close neighbors.  In my opinion, I have the right to defend my livestock!
 

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/lacy-blues-swaps

 

 

[img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/desertsmile.gif[/img]

Reply

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/lacy-blues-swaps

 

 

[img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/desertsmile.gif[/img]

Reply
post #25 of 28
6/23/12 at 5:56pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks.  I love eagles - at least I did - they aren't quite so beautiful to me now.  I think a rock or two was discharged before the spouse moved away from the window...couldn't swear to it...I was already running. All I heard was 'eagle', made quick glance, saw the white head and didn't stop running, bare foot through mud and God knows what else, until I got in the duck run.  

 

I've always wanted a eagle's nest in our forest.  But not now.  We have owls as well. And hawks.  And coyotes and dogs that run free.  And....first time in 15 months we have had anything other that rodent issues. I guess it is pretty much inevitable.  But really should have had a covered run.  Sorry, Watson, another stupid lesson learned, the hard way.
 

I have become so attached to those silly ducks, I really couldn't say what I would have done had I gotten close enough to the eagle. But I am pretty sure the sight of Watson, would have made it very unpleasant for all of us.

Three spoiled Khaki Campbells (Walter, Mildred, Mocha)(RIP Watson), two spoiled Magpies (Ciscoe, Peeps), one spoiled miniature red dachshund (Abbey), one spoiled black and tan dappled miniature dachshund (Sherman), and a not-so-spoiled husband.

Reply

Three spoiled Khaki Campbells (Walter, Mildred, Mocha)(RIP Watson), two spoiled Magpies (Ciscoe, Peeps), one spoiled miniature red dachshund (Abbey), one spoiled black and tan dappled miniature dachshund (Sherman), and a not-so-spoiled husband.

Reply
post #26 of 28
6/23/12 at 6:54pm

So sad to read about Watson.  I know you care so much for your ducks.

 

We also have many predators, and I cannot promise what I would or would not do under certain circumstances.  I carry a literal big stick (a staff) when I walk with the ducks, and keep them pretty close when they are not in the day pen, but there are times when a determined, fast predator could get away with something.

 

My aim is to minimize the risk as much as I know how.  In my mind, there will always be another to take the place of any I might kill.

Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

Reply

Nine beautiful Runners, four beautiful Buffs, thousands of beautiful memories and counting.

 

Looking for ducks?  Please consider adopting rescued ducks.  There are many places and people who do rescues, but we are not allowed to post the links due to BYC regs.  So fire up your web browsers and find some sweet, grateful duckies. 

 

 

Reply
post #27 of 28
6/23/12 at 10:00pm

So sorry to hear about Watson.  :(  hugs.gif

One city boy husband that I'm converting to a poultry boy, 3 daughters, 3 Mallards, 2 dogs, one cat: and the bator's plugged in.  Hatching addict, BYC addict and you can find me in the forum "formerly known as hatch day is today" with my friends: Miss Lydia, Critterrun, StillMecle, GrannyCarol, JulieNKC, DuckGirl89, 70%Cocoa, Evelle and JazminesZoo.  I love my Gurlz!
Reply
One city boy husband that I'm converting to a poultry boy, 3 daughters, 3 Mallards, 2 dogs, one cat: and the bator's plugged in.  Hatching addict, BYC addict and you can find me in the forum "formerly known as hatch day is today" with my friends: Miss Lydia, Critterrun, StillMecle, GrannyCarol, JulieNKC, DuckGirl89, 70%Cocoa, Evelle and JazminesZoo.  I love my Gurlz!
Reply
post #28 of 28
6/24/12 at 3:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by newbyduckmom View Post

Thanks.  I love eagles - at least I did - they aren't quite so beautiful to me now.  I think a rock or two was discharged before the spouse moved away from the window...couldn't swear to it...I was already running. All I heard was 'eagle', made quick glance, saw the white head and didn't stop running, bare foot through mud and God knows what else, until I got in the duck run.  

 

I've always wanted a eagle's nest in our forest.  But not now.  We have owls as well. And hawks.  And coyotes and dogs that run free.  And....first time in 15 months we have had anything other that rodent issues. I guess it is pretty much inevitable.  But really should have had a covered run.  Sorry, Watson, another stupid lesson learned, the hard way.
 

I have become so attached to those silly ducks, I really couldn't say what I would have done had I gotten close enough to the eagle. But I am pretty sure the sight of Watson, would have made it very unpleasant for all of us.

I am so very sorry to hear about Watson. I have chickens that free range during the day and had hopes that the ducks and geese I added this year would also be allowed to do the same.  That's not gonna happen.  The ducks seem to have "called" in all of the big winged predators around, as well as the 4 legged ones.  I've had Red Tail hawks daily and yesterday a pair of young eagles scanning the yard.   

Quote:
Originally Posted by deserthotwings View Post

If I catch a varmit killing any of my stock, cattle or birds, he's history.

Oh I agree!  I had discussions about this with the Game Wardens last year when we had bear problems with my pigs.  In the case of eagles, you should contact the Game Wardens but sorry, I agree with the Triple S.  In the time it would take them to get permission to trap the problem you could lose your whole flock.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Amiga View Post

.

 

We also have many predators, and I cannot promise what I would or would not do under certain circumstances.  I carry a literal big stick (a staff) when I walk with the ducks, and keep them pretty close when they are not in the day pen, but there are times when a determined, fast predator could get away with something.

 

My aim is to minimize the risk as much as I know how.  In my mind, there will always be another to take the place of any I might kill.

While I was putting up the cover for my duck pen, I finally let them out with me when I had it half way covered.  Three times I had to stop and play "batter-up" with a Red Tail.  A big stick is a must with ducks and geese.  The last fly over by the hawk, she was 3 feet above my head and I nailed her a good one.  She was back the next day, sitting in the pine tree behind their house. 

A Haunter run a'fowl

Reply

A Haunter run a'fowl

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Ducks
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Other BackYard Poultry › Ducks › Eagle Attack